Inflating device



Aug- 13, 1940- K. KowALKu-:wlcz l 2,211,063

` INFLATING DEVICE Filed April 5, 1937 z A A I la i 17A/lie l; 2' f -23 I I Smm CFI Patented Aug. 13, 1940 uNlTsD STATI-:s

PATENT ori-lcs 1 Claim.

In particular, my invention is devised to facilitate the ination of spare tires carried in the back of automobiles in a'closed compartment, es-

pecially in the back trunk. It is a common practice of manufacturers of automobiles to provide a space for the extra tire in the trunk, where the tire is protected by a lock installed in the cover of the trunk and where the tire islheld by clamps in readiness for an emergency. The interior of the trunk is also used ordinarily for baggage or loose clothing or laundry that'may be piled over the spare tire, and yet, in order that the tire may serve in an emergency, it is desirable that it be always kept inflated. Tov accomplish this, it is necessary to unlock the cover of the trunk,. to remove all movable objects such as baggage, so

that access to the valve on the rim of the spare tire might be obtained.

To simplify this task, and to make it easy and convenient to inflate, deiiate or to check thi pressure of air within the tire, without the ne essity,

- of unlocking and opening the cover of the trunk,

, tube at or other similar tire compartment, I have devised av combination of a tubular passageway for air and a suitable coupling with the air valve on the tire,

the rear of the vehicle on the outside whereit is readily and vimmediately accessible for use.

I shall now proceed to describe my invention with reference to the accompanying illustrations, in which:

Fig. 1 shows the location of my improved combination with reference to the body of the auto- Vll'lg. 1 lies ordinarily mobile and the tire therein.' v Fig. 2 shows a Asectional view of the coupling of my device and that of'the air valve to which it is attached. t

Fig. 3 shows the sectional view oi' the exterior outlet of my tubular air passage and that of the iltting therein. y Fig. 4 shows a sectional view of a m`odied coupling of my tubular air p as attached to the-air valve of the tire. Y

Fig. 5 shows a sectional view of the exterior outlet of the modined tubular-air passage.

Fig. 6 shows a transverse sectional view of the y tubular connection taken on line 8--6 in Fig. 5.

similar numerals refer to throughout-the several views.

Thespare tire indicated as a whole by -I in in the trunk space of the automobile in a horizontal position, as partly shown in section in Fig. 1. The air' valve l projects upward. Attached byclamp 8 to the threaded nipple Il of and have located the outlet of the said4 (vol. 15s- 415) frame or rack upon which the tire rests. is a rubber tube 4. A hollow stem 5, best made of metal, tightly iltted into the end of the rubber tube 4, terminates in an integrally -constructed flanged head 6. The head carries a centrally lo- -6 cated pin 1 and is provided with air passages 8, disposed in parallel to the axis oi' the tube 4. `9 is an annular washer adjoining said head 6 of the stem 5, and is made preferably of rubber. Another annular washer la, best Imade of rubber, .10 encircles vthe stem 5 on theopbosite side of the 'ange on head 8. A swivel member I0, bored centrally, rotates i'reelyln either direction on the end of stem B, closely embracing the ilanged head 6 oi said stem. The inside surface of said member I0, from a pointadjacent the washer 9 to the orifice of said member IIi,\is threaded to fit the the tire valve stern I2,

which is equipped with the standard valve Il,

commonly known as the Schraeder' valve, oi' 90 I which pin I4 is a part. The other end of the tube 4, terminating externally of the automobile, is also provided with ametal stem 20. said stem beingjoined removably -or integrally to a standard valve stem I5 of the kind used in pneumatic tires and is also equipped with a standard valve I6 of the type known as the Schroeder valve, of

`which valve pin I1 projecting slightly out of the stem is a part. A clamp I8, suitably suspended from the body of the automobile, holds the stem 30 I5 of the valve and the lower end of the tube 4 firmly in place. The end I9 of the stem is threaded to receive a convexitionaldust cap. 'I'he manner in which the combination works is as' follows: 3 When tire I is placed on its rack within the trunk space of the automobile, with the valve stems upward, the end of the tube 4, equipped with the swivel coupling member I0, is screwed over thethreaded end II ofthe valve stem I2, as 40 shown in Fig. 2. The mouth of this stem is broughtvvinto an air-tight contact with the annular washer 8, said washer being also in an airtight co'ntact with the annular ange of the stem head 6. When in this position, the pin 1 on said v55 stem head 8, depresses the valve pin I I ofthe Schraeder valve I2, and by means of perforations 8 in the head 6 of the stem I, establishes a pasvalve il sho'wn in the opposite end of the tube 4, mounted externally. It is this air valve that keeps the pressure of air in the tire, as the first mentioned valve |3 is rendered inoperative, being kept in an open position by the action of pin 1. When it is desired to inflate the tire, the coupling of the hose which furnishes air from a pump, is applied to the stem Il in a like manner as if it were applied to the stem of the valve mounteddirectly on the tire. When pin |1 is depressed by said air hose coupling,l air is forced into the tube 4, and since valve I3 is inoperative, air is also forced through passages I, past the valve |3 into the pneumatic tire as desired. Similarly, by applying the air gage to said stem I9, the pressure of air within the-tube measured. The tire may be dedated by depressing the valve pin |1, when air contained in the tire and in the tube would be allowed to escape.

A modification of my combination is shown in Figs, 4, 5 and 6. The diilerence introduced by the modified construction lies mainly in the fact that the Schraeder valve 2|, shown in Fig. 4, is normally in a position blocking the passage of air in or out of the tire. it is adapted, however, to be opened for passage of air by having the valve pin 22 depressed when desired. To effect this result, I employ a flexible wire cable within the air conducting tube 23. The end of the tube 23, .which terminates in swivel coupling 24, is tightly fitted over a stem 2s, one end of said stem opening into the interior of the tube, and the other end terminating in a ilanged head 25, that is,v a head larger diameter forming a part thereof. The swivel coupling 24, substantially like that shown in Fig. 2 and described above, is seated on the end of said stem 23 over said flanged head 25.

The cable is composed of a exible wire 3l and closed within aexible sheath 3|, and is disposed within the air tube 23. The end of the wire is afdxed to a slidable rod 21, adapted to project through an axially located opening in the head 25 of stem 29 and to depress the valve pin 22. Air passages in head 2i are indicated by numeral 2,5. When coupling 24 is fully screwed over the end of the stem 2l, the connection between the tube 23 and the mouth of said stem is air-tight, this being partly effected by employing rubber washers as described with reference to Fig. 2. The flexible wire u, connected at one end to rod i1, as shown above,'extends within said tube 23 to its external outlet where it again terminates in rigid rod or pin 34. The mouth of the tube encloses a bottle shaped tting, preferably made of metal, and designed as a whole by numeral Il. 'I'he main body portion 3l of the tting 3l is cylindrical in form with an internally threaded orice .o accommodate a nut-like member 31, provided with an axially disposed aperture 3l and a plurality of marginally disposed openings 33,.as shown inA Fig. 6. The neck portion 33 of said bottle shaped fitting 3i is provided with passages in parallel with the longitudinal axis thereof and corresponding to the apertures in the nut-like may bev with a flange of a somewhat tube, designed to v a flexible member 31, said perforations opening into said cylindrical section 36 of the iltting 5. The flexible wire 3o passes through the central opening 33 in the nut 31 into the interior section 36 where it is 'connected to the pin 34 passing through the axial opening in the neck portion 33 of the dtting 35. A coil spring 4o, disposed in cylinder 3i and actuating the pin 34 by means of a transversely positioned shoulder 4 ,keeps the end of the pin 34 normally projecting out of the neck por tion 33 of the fitting 35. Said neck portion is threaded to receive a conventional dust cap.

This arrangement of parts just described has two merits, as it dispenses with the additional valve in the external terminus of the air tube and as the air within the pneumatic tire is nor maliy retained by means of the valve, said valve being normally closed.

When it is desired to inflate the tire, the coupling of the hose supplying air from a pump is applied to nipple 33 of the fitting 35. The application of this coupling depresses pin 34, This in turn actuates the flexible wire which at its.

other end acts by means of rod 21 upon valve` pin 22 opening said valve pin for admission of air conducted thereinto through tube 23. When the air hose coupling is removed, coiled spring Il, bearing against the shoulder 4|, moves pin 34 back to its normal position shown in Fig. 5 and exerts a pull upon wire 3 0, retracting byvmeans of said wire rod 21 fromits depressing engagement upon valve pin 22. Relieved of pressure by said rod 21 upon its pin 22, valve 2| becomes closed.

In effect, therefore, means invented by me and .shown in this modification provide a facility of controlling and acting directly upon the valve of the spare tire in the same manner as if said valve were directly accessible on the exterior of the automobile.

I realize that other modifications may be introduced in my improvement Without materially departing from the spirit of my invention. What I, therefore, claim is:

A flexible tube of the kind described, serving to conduct airfinto a spare tire within the ordinarily closed trunk of an automobile, said tube comprising a swivel coupling at one end of the be removably attached to the air valve of said tire, a flexible wire longitudinally disposed within said tube and contained within sheathing longitudinally extending within said tube, one end of said wire terminating in an element within said coupling, adapted to open said tire' valve, the other end of said wire terminating in the other end of the tube, a spring pressed perforated disc transversely disposed within the said other end of the tube. said disc being provided in the center thereof with a Pin projecting outwardly in a manner to be depressed by the application of means supplying air to the tire and to slide the wire inwardly to open the air valve of the tube.

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